In his blog post, Jeremy Liang states how some restaurants in China use cheap “recycled” cooking oil to maximize profits even though it poses health risks. The businesses in China which endeavor to make money fast by producing unsafe foods are harming the health of the world’s population and China’s image. The world is already cautious of China’s food products because of scandals such as baby deaths caused by milk powder contaminated with melamine (source).
This is a situation where government needs to step in to enforce ethics. China must find a way to implement stricter food safety regulations faster and give incentives for people to follow them. If Chinese government succeeds in instilling the message that “ethical practice equals better business“, then individual businesses will gain more, China’s economy will grow more, and the rest of the world benefits. Jeremy mentions how his father’s restaurant in China earns less profit in order to be responsible for customer’s health by providing good quality food. The restaurant has built a reputable name and a large customer base. Over time, his restaurant actually earns more than those using low quality foods which turn customers away.
In business, operating ethically and making profits aren’t mutually exclusive, they should go together.
